By Correspondent in Lokoja.
The Federal Government has officially restored History as a compulsory subject in the basic education curriculum, 15 years after it was removed.
The Federal Ministry of Education announced the policy shift in a statement on its official X handle on Wednesday, describing it as a step to strengthen national identity, unity, patriotism, and responsible citizenship.
Under the revised curriculum, pupils will study History continuously from Primary 1 to JSS3, while Senior Secondary School students (SSS1–3) will now take Civic and Heritage Studies, a new subject that blends History with Civic Education.
According to the curriculum outline:
Primary 1–6 pupils will be introduced to Nigeria’s origins, heroes, rulers, culture, economy, religions, colonial rule, and post-independence governance.
JSS1–3 students will cover African civilizations, empires, trade, European contacts, amalgamation, independence, democracy, and civic values.
The ministry hailed the development as “a priceless gift to the nation,” stressing that it would reconnect children with their roots while inspiring pride, unity, and a stronger sense of nationhood.
To ensure effective rollout, government said it would retrain teachers, provide teaching materials, and strengthen monitoring across schools.
History was scrapped from the curriculum in the 2009/2010 academic session after authorities cited low interest among students, limited career prospects for graduates, and a shortage of History teachers.
Moves to bring it back began in 2017 when the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) announced plans for reintroduction.
By 2022, the Federal Government had launched the first phase of teacher training to support its return.
Some residents of Lokoja, Kogi State capital, who spoke with our correspondent on the development expressed delight, saying that with Wednesday’s announcement, History is once again returned as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s basic education system.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
